Can you tell us about Operation Christmas Child and how it originated?

Operation Christmas Child began in 1993 and collected 28,000 shoeboxes that year. 2013 is the 20th anniversary of Operation Christmas Child.

To date, the project has delivered shoebox gifts to over 100 million children in more than 100 countries.

Individuals, families, churches and groups pack an empty shoebox with simple items like toys, school supplies and hygiene items.

These shoebox gifts are collected at more than 3,500 locations spanning all 50 states during National Collection Week. More than 100,000 U.S. and 500,000 world-wide volunteers participate in the project.

Besides donating items for the gift boxes, how can local residents help Operation Christmas Child?

Besides packing shoeboxes, Leavenworth residents can pray for the children receiving the shoeboxes, host or attend a "Packing Party" in the local community, or build a box online at samaritanspurse.org.

What are some good ideas for items that local residents can include in the gift-filled shoeboxes for needy children?

Children receiving the boxes love hygiene items, school supplies, a small stuffed animal, T-shirts, gloves, hats or flip-flops.

Where are the collection sites in the area and what are the hours of collection?

There are two collection centers in the area.

At these local collection sites in the Leavenworth area, anyone can drop off a gift-filled shoebox to send to a child overseas. Then using whatever means necessary—trucks, trains, boats, bikes and even elephants—the shoebox gifts will be delivered to children worldwide. For many children, the shoebox gift will be the first gift they have ever received.

National Collection Week is Nov. 18-25.

Collection Sites:

Trinity Lutheran Church

2101 10th Avenue

Leavenworth, KS 66048

Operating Hours:

Nov. 18: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Nov. 19: 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Nov. 20: 3:30 p.m. - 6

p.m.

Nov. 21: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Nov. 22: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Nov. 23: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Nov. 24: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Nov. 25: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

First Southern Baptist Church

306 4H Road

Lansing, KS 66043

Operating Hours:

Nov. 18: 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Nov. 19: 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Nov. 20: 4:30 p.m. - 8

p.m.

Nov. 21: 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Nov. 22: 4:30 p.m. - 8

p.m.

Nov. 23: 4:30 p.m. - 8

p.m.

Nov. 24: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Nov. 25: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m

First Southern Baptist Church

Page 2 of 2 - 306 4H Road

Lansing, KS 66043

Operating Hours:

Nov. 18: 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Nov. 19: 4:30 p.m. - 8

p.m.

Nov. 20: 4:30 p.m. - 8

p.m.

Nov. 21: 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Nov. 22: 4:30 p.m. - 8

p.m.

Nov. 23: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m..

Nov. 24: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Nov. 25: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Operation Christmas Child offers a way for participants to follow their box as it travels thousands of miles. How is this done? How can people get more information about the operation?

After packing a shoebox gift, participants can print a barcode from samaritanspurse.org and tape it to their box.

The barcodes are then scanned when shipped and when they arrive in the country.

When the shoeboxes arrive at their destination, an email will be sent to you that will tell you which country your shoebox has been sent to.

The email will also tell you about other projects Samaritan's Purse is doing in that country and also statistics about the country.